This is long! Sorry, but I don’t want to forget the details! =) Feel free to skim!

Olive’s birth was {SO} different from Isaiah’s. With Isaiah my water broke at barely 37 weeks, I was in labor for 15 hours, I pushed for 2 1/2 hours, and I didn’t have an epidural or any other pain medication. It was a rough birth! I broke the blood vessels in my eyes from pushing so long and hard (I looked pretty scary let me tell ya), I could barely enjoy him right after he was born because I was in so much pain, and I could barely walk (or sit!) for weeks after his birth.

Naturally, I was a little bit nervous to do THAT again! Thankfully, though, Olive’s birth was almost 100 times better! And I am so thankful!

On April 1st, I went in and had my doctor strip my membranes. I had an induction scheduled for the next morning, but I was hoping maybe I could avoid an induction and see if stripping my membranes would cause things to start on their own. Immediately after she stripped me I started contracting and cramping. The entire evening and all through the night I had irregular but quite painful contractions. I was able to get some sleep that night but the contractions woke me up a few times. I had to concentrate on breathing through the strong ones. They definately weren’t labor contractions but I knew that my body was getting ready to do what it was supposed to!

We made it through that night with no baby and got up around 4 the next morning to get ready to make it to the hospital by 6 a.m. A few days prior I had scheduled this induction after much hesitation and deliberation. Although I was 40 weeks 4 days pregnant, I did not want to be induced. I believe that most babies come when they’re ready and that, as long as mom and baby are doing well, baby should be allowed to stay inside until they come out on their own. I know there are many medical and other reasons why women are induced or schedule c-sections but there are also many moms who do it simply out of convenience. And I’m not a big fan of that.

I was still very comfortable and content in my pregnancy. I had had a strong feeling from the beginning that baby was going to be an April baby so I was not surprised when my due date came and went and I was still pregnant. I actually wanted baby to be born on 4-4-14 because I thought that would be a cool birthday. 😉 But, after much thought and prayer we decided to schedule an induction for me on April 2nd because Drew was flying to Arizona on April 6th and we absoluately wanted to make sure he was here for baby’s birth and a few days afterwards.

My main hesitation with being induced was that I did NOT want to be given pitocin. Yet I knew that if we couldn’t get labor to start another way, I would have to use pitocin to speed things up. My doctor was very understanding and we agreeed that she would start with breaking my water to see if that would put me into labor without the use of any other drugs.

So at 5 a.m. on April 2nd our wonderful babysitter, Kelsey, came over and soon after Drew and I left for the hospital! It was so weird to know that we would be having a baby that day. It was so different from Isaiah who came so early and so unexpectadly. This time we were actually planning our baby’s birthday. A strange feeling!

Heading to the hospital!

At the hospital we got settled into our room and I got hooked up to an I.V., got my blood drawn, and other tests done. I was still having painful contractions and the nurse checked me. I was a 3.5 and 80% effaced. Almost in active labor!

Smiling and ready to have a baby!!!

And then a contraction hit!

My sister came a little after 8 and I was so glad she made it there before things really started to happen fast! My doctor came in at 8:30 a.m. and broke my water. Immediately my contractions started picking up and becoming more intense. They were extremely close together and lasting a long time. I was planning to get an epidural this time and I told the nurse that I was ready for it as soon as I could have it!!!! =)

The anesthesiologist came some time around 9:30 and put my epidural in. It was quick and painless! And when that sweet lady left my room I told her she was my favorite person in the whole hospital! The epidural was great. It made a world of difference from Isaiah’s birth. I was completely out of it with Isaiah’s birth because I was in so much pain. With the epidural I was talking and laughing with Katelyn and Drew and we were watching HGTV on the television! What a stark contrast!

I progressed so quickly. Each time the nurse would check I was a centimeter more. I couldn’t feel the contractions so I was relaxed and comfortable and my body did what it knew it was supposed to. We had a few scary moments because the baby’s heart rate kept dropping. At one point the nurse rushed in and quickly flipped me over to my left side and said baby’s heart rate had dropped down to 60 for 3 minutes! For the next hour I kept having to flip from side to side and eventually ended up on my hands and knees on the bed to keep the baby’s heart rate from dropping. It was a bit scary but the same thing had actually happend during Isaiah’s birth and almost resulted in me needing a c-section. I may have needed one with Olive too but we were able to keep her heart rate up by me changing positions so thankfully it didn’t come to that. When she was born the cord was wrapped around her neck which may have caused her frequent heart rate droppings.

A little after 11 a.m I was on my hands and knees and started feeling like I had to push. It was a new feeling for me because I never once felt the urge to push with Isaiah! Usually it’s the opposite… women can feel when to push when they {don’t} have an epidural and have a harder time knowing when to push when they do have one! But with Isaiah I had to be told when to push. I {never} felt like I had to.With Olive I started telling the nurses that I NEEDED TO PUSH {NOW}! She checked me and sure enough I was a 10. My doctor came in and I was allowed to start pushing. This was around 11:30.

I pushed so differently this time because I could feel when and how to push! And I think it made a world of difference becausse I only had to push for a little less than half an hour as opposed to 2 1/2 hours with Isaiah! It didn’t seem like long after I started that my doctor said that she could see the baby’s head!!! She said, “Oh my word, this baby has tons of blonde hair!!” In between pushing I even had time to crack a joke and asked her if it looked like a boy head or a girl head!!! =) She replied that she didn’t know but that whatever it was it was getting a barrette in it!! Lol! I think I may have even laughed a little in between contractions. 😉

A few pushes later the baby’s head came out a little further and my doctor said that she thought the baby was face up instead of face down. I was able to ask her what that meant as far as my labor but I don’t remember what she said, Later I found out that babies that come out face up usually cause the mom alot more pain during birth and that many babies aren’t even able to bend the opposite way to get out of the birth canal that way. Many moms end up with a c-section because their babies get stuck! I am glad I didn’t know all that at the time. I just kept pushing with all my might!

And sure enough, a few minutes later Baby Hutcheson came on out! And then came that moment that I’d been waiting for for 9 whole months. The “It’s a BOY!” or “It’s a GIRL!” moment!!! Drew was planning to be the one to tell me {but} because Olive came out face up, when the doctor lifted her up I could immediately see for myself! IT’S A GIRL!!! I think it was Olive’s way of saying, “Hey mom, you’ve waited long enough. I’m gonna show you right away what I am!” =) I don’t remember if anyone else even said “It’s a girl!” because immediately I yelled it out and brought Olive to my chest. I kept saying, “It’s a girl! It’s a girl! Oh my goodness, it’s a girl! You’re a girl! I knew you were a girl! I knew it!” Lol! I think everyone was probably sick of me saying it but I just couldn’t get over the shock that I now knew what my baby was after waiting and wondering for so long! It was such an amazing feeling!

Just minutes old.

Later I’m planning to write down in more detail my thoughts on being “team green” but for now I know you’re wondering, “Was it worth the wait!?!?!” I would have to say that YES it was worth the wait. It was so amazing to see my baby and to say, “It’s a girl!” right after her birth. It was an incredible high. But would I do it again? I don’t know! It was hard! I’m still processing it all and will write more on this later. =)

Olive Kay Hutcheson was born on April 2nd at 11:59 a.m. just 3 1/2 hours after my doctor broke my water! She weighed in at 8 lbs, 11 oz, 22 inches long! She was born with a head full of very blonde hair and squishy cheeks just like her daddy when he was a baby.

Sweet baby girl.

Unfortunately, I was only able to hold Olive for less than 5 minutes before the nurses took her away to the nursery. She was turning blue and unable to breath. She had fluid in her lungs either as a result of coming out face up and/or as a result of my short labor which didn’t allow her enough time in the birth canal to get the fluid squeezed out of her lungs.

Hooked up to all sorts of monitors.

She spent 3 hours in the nursery under an oxygen mask which almost broke our hearts. More than anything I wanted her skin to skin with me immediately after birth and I wanted to begin breastfeeding her right away. But more importantly we had to make sure that she could breath and swallow on her own before she was brought back to our room. As a result she spent several hours in the nursery and was fed a bottle as her first meal to make sure that she could swallow without choking. I wish that wouldn’t have been the case but I am thankful for a great hospital and staff who took care of my baby when she needed it!

Daddy got to do the first feeding!

I am also thankful that, since I had such a short labor, I felt relatively good after giving birth and was able to get up almost immediately afterwards and go see Olive in the nursery. I am grateful for that. And it wasn’t long before she was brought back into our room and doing just fine. She latched on and breastfed like a champ her very first time and has had no issues since!

Right after I had her Drew went out and got me a vente, extra hot, white chocolate mocha with skim milk and decaf coffee. And I drank it while eating a raspberry, cream cheese scone from the Great Harvest bread company. Ahhhh…… I was done…. and so happy!!!!! =)

Finally had my baby girl in my arms after 3 hours in the nursery.

Snuggling on daddy.

So in love with this girl’s hair!!

Our pediatricion didn’t want anyone but us to hold Olive her first day so that she could just focus on breathing and swallowing. As a result we weren’t able to have Isaiah and Eloise visit until the next day. But when they came they were SO sweet when they saw her and have continued to be SO sweet with her since we’ve been home.

Seeing their baby sister for the very first time.

Giving Olive the gift they brought for her.

Eloise opening her gift from Baby Olive.

Clearly she was more interested in the real baby than her new baby doll.

Isaiah opening up his gift from Olive (it was a huge dinosaur).

Such a proud big sister.

My three little loves. ❤

Sisters

So much love in this picture!

She loves to kiss her baby!!

Melts my heart!

We were able to leave the hospital on the evening of the 3rd and it was good to get home! We are all adjusting well and I honestly don’t think things could go any smoother! Isaiah and Eloise have not been jealous and have not been acting out. So far they seem to be adjusting very well and boy do they LOVE their baby sister! I need to post a video of them loving on her. It is so sweet.

Heading home from the hospital.

Two excited kids were waiting to greet Olive when we arrived home!

Drew left for Arizona last Sunday but his parents are here visiting from Florida so I have great help while he is gone! I’m sending him pictures of his baby girl every day so he can see how much she changes with each passing day. It’s amazing!

Hugs for baby.

I’ve been having fun buying some girl clothes and other stuff that Olive needs. There are so many things I didn’t want to get until I knew whether baby was a boy or a girl so I’m having fun buying the girly things that I want. =) Yet today I packed up the baby boy clothes that I had washed of Isaiah’s and put them away in a box and felt a little sad! Maybe some day I will get to use those too! 😉

So that’s the birth story of our sweet Olive Kay! I’m planning to write another post soon about what her name means and what a very very dear and special meaning her name has been to us these last couple of months. More to come soon, I promise!!!

Sweet girl on her first outing at just 2 days old!

Love this little face so much.

Already teaching her how to pray. 😉

Making silly faces.

And just like that my heart grew three sizes and all my babies now fit perfectly inside. ❤

Ok, so after my April Fool’s Day post earlier this morning, you may not believe me… but this time I’m going to tell you the {truth} about Baby Hutcheson #3!

I’m still here and I’m still pregnant! 😉 Baby is still safe and sound INSIDE! I’m 100% positive we are NOT having twins but if we do, the April Fool’s Day joke will be on me! 😉

Although Baby Hutcheson was not born today, he or she will be born TOMORROW! I am going in at 6 am to be induced!

I am still very comfortable in this pregnancy and would actually love to go even longer!! I love being pregnant and I know I’m going to miss feeling baby from the inside. However, Drew is flying to Arizona for a week on this Sunday, the 6th, so we wanted to make sure that he was here for baby’s birth and to be with us for a few days afterwards. Thus, we’ve decided induction is the right thing for us so we can make sure of those things.

I’m very thankful that I made it into April with this baby. Since Isaiah came so early I really didn’t know when this baby would come. But I have been praying for a long time that baby would wait until Drew was done studying for and taking his exams and also I really wanted to get that April Fool’s Day post out before baby got here. 😉 I’ve felt for a while that baby was going to be an April baby and I was right! I’m thankful for how great I’ve felt these last few weeks and that baby has “cooperated” with my plans. =)

Tomorrow at 6 am my doctor will start with breaking my water to see if that will put me into labor without the use of pitocin. My doctor is pretty certain it will since I am very dilated and thinned out.

I really don’t think I’m going to get any sleep tonight! Can’t believe we will be meeting our new little bean tomorrow and FINALLY finding out whether it’s a boy or a girl!! We are so excited!

If you think of it please pray for a quick and easy delivery with no complications as well as a healthy baby!

We are excited to announce that Baby Hutcheson #3 has finally arrived!!! But not only that, Baby Hutcheson #4 has arrived too! Yup, that’s right, it really was TWINS all along!!! Good things we’ve been team green this pregnancy and have both boy and girl clothes on hand!!

My labor began early this morning when my water broke around 12:01 a.m. I had the feeling this baby was going to come fast so I quickly rushed to the hospital. Good thing because after only 30 minutes of labor and {one} push, out came our son. It’s a boy!! Brussel Russel Hutcheson was born at 1:01 a.m. and is perfectly perfect!!! He weighed in at 16 pounds, 11 oz, 25 inches long.

So in love with this little (well, actually big) guy!

We decided on the name Brussel because Drew has always loved the name Russel and, well, brussel sprouts are my favorite vegetable (and I adore the letter B) so it just seemed to fit! But after we named him Brussel, Drew still felt a strong desire to use the original form of the name so we have decided on Russel for the middle name. We are absolutely in love with our little Brussel and have already nicknamed him B-Sprout.

But, that’s not all! Imagine my surprise when just 9 minutes later out popped another baby!! Our daughter was born at 1:10 a.m weighing 11 pounds, 16 oz, 15 inches long. It’s a girl!! We have decided to name her Eloise II, mainly because we had such a hard time finding another girls name that we like as much as Eloise. We would have just named her Eloise but thought that might get too confusing so Eloise II seemed to fit. We have decided on the middle name Esiole, the backwards spelling of Eloise. So Eloise II Esiole Hutcheson it is! We are just so in love with her, and were shocked to see that she even resembles her big sister Eloise! Genetics are so amazing!!!

Isn’t she just perfect? Almost like a real, live baby doll!

Unfortunately Drew was unable to be at the birth. He had recorded the Michigan State game from last week and really wanted a chance to be able to watch it before the baby (now babies!) arrived. So, we decided it would be best for him to stay home and get the game out of the way before we have the distraction of a newborn at home. I’m so thankful he was able to spend time watching his game while I birthed the babies.

The good news is that, because of modern technology, I was able to keep him fully in the loop as the babies were born. He is such a proud daddy!

All in all, the birth of the babies was such a great experience! I hope to do it again in about 9 months!

And this? Oh, this is me. I just took a few minutes to freshen up in the bathroom about an hour after the twins were born.

We are going to be going home later today and I found these adorable bibs on Amazon that I was able to order. With Amazon’s new drone delivery system they arrived at my hospital room door within minutes! The babies are going to wear them home from the hospital in honor of this great day they were born on.

You may think this bib is creepy but we totally love it.

So, that’s the birth story of our new babies, Brussel and Eloise II. Can’t wait to share more pictures of the two of them soon. In the mean time, enjoy the rest of your April Fools Day!

Today’s my due date! I am so glad I’ve made it this far in this pregnancy. We have had so much going on in the last few months with Drew studying for and taking 3 exams for his new job. I’ve been praying for quite some time that baby would wait until Drew’s exams were over before he or she made their grand entrance! So I’m thankful baby has stayed in this long, but we trust in God’s timing over any timing that we deem best and we know baby will be born on exactly the right day!

At my 40 week doctors appointment I was dilated to a 3 and “very thinned out” (she didn’t give me a percentage). Drew is flying out to Arizona on April 6th for a week of training with Edward Jones so we want to make sure baby comes before then! If baby doesn’t come on his/her own before then, I will go in to have my membranes stripped on the afternoon of the 1st to see if that will kick-start anything. If stripping my membranes on the 1st doesn’t work, my doctor is going to break my water at 6 am on April 2nd! And if that doesn’t kick start labor, I’ll be induced later that morning. So, either way, it looks like Baby Hutcheson #3 is going to arrive in the very near future! =)

I’m trying to enjoy these last few days of having baby on the inside! Thankfully I’m not uncomfortable and still have a pretty good amount of energy! I’m not retaining water or swelling so that’s good. I actually feel pretty great and am thankful that I’m not miserable!! But I am getting {very} excited to meet our newest sweet little bundle!

How far along: 40 weeks

Size of baby: Baby probably weighs somewhere around 7-8 pounds and is 19 to 22 inches long. About the size of … a newborn baby!!!

Total weight gain: 23 pounds

Baby’s heart rate: 130

Stretch marks: One small stretch mark right above my belly button. That’s it so far!

Morning Sickness: I said “so long” to Zofran a few months ago! Feeling good these days!

Gender: We don’t know! Can’t wait to find out! Only 4 more days at the most!

Are you all as anxious as me to find out the gender of this baby?!?! I’m thinking you all pretty much want this to be me in the delivery room, am I right!?!? =)

Movement: Less movement these days but baby will almost always react if we talk to him/her or push on my belly. I can’t imagine baby has much room to move around at this point!

Sleep: Not sleeping the best… and I have the feeling it’s about to get even worse! 😉

Cravings: Apples and all things containing sugar!

What I miss: Being able to get up and down easily and in and out of bed easily. It’s quite a chore these days!

Symptoms: My lower back is still in a lot of pain. Looking forward to that being relieved soon! Braxton Hicks contractions coming more regularly.

What I’m looking forward to: Having the birth of this baby over with so I don’t have to think/worry about what could go wrong, the pain, or when it will be! 😉

Isaiah and Eloise: Isaiah and Eloise are doing well! I was getting dressed yesterday and Isaiah handed me my shirt and said, “Here mom. Put this on so your baby doesn’t get cold.” =) He’s always looking out for the baby and it’s so sweet! Little does Eloise know but she only has a few days left as the youngest member of the Hutcheson family! I know she’s going to love the baby but I’m not sure how she’s going to feel about having her status as baby of the family revoked. I’m expecting some hard days/weeks/months of adjusting but hoping that they will both do well with the new baby. They are certainly excited now and I’m hoping that feeling will stick around. 😉

I have to say that I am so glad I’ve made it this far! Since Isaiah was born at 37 weeks, I didn’t know how long this baby would stay inside but I had lots of things planned that I wanted to get done this past week so I’m glad baby has cooperated and stayed in longer! =) I will also say that from the very beginning of this pregnancy I never felt like I was going to go early with this baby and that there was a very real possibility baby would be born in April. I always felt like Isaiah was going to come early and he did but this time I just never felt it! Drew and I went away this past weekend for one last getaway before baby comes. We obviously had to stay somewhere close by so we just went to Grand Rapids and stayed in a hotel for the night. My amazing sister watched the kids for us (Thank You!) and we were able to relax for a little weekend getaway. We sat in the hot tub, watched t.v., went out to eat, and slept in. Pretty low key and relaxing. It was wonderful!! This week Drew started studying again for his third exam for Edward Jones. He takes his third exam on April 1st. He also has to fly to Arizona for his Edward Jones training on April 6th and will be gone a week. So now we are just hoping that baby comes after the 1st but before the 6th so that Drew can be done with his exam but still be here for the birth and to spend a few days with us before he has to leave for the week. The timing of this baby’s arrival has been in God’s hands from the very beginning and we trust that whenever baby comes will be the best time! Thankfully my in-laws are coming up on the 4th to be with me and the kids while Drew is gone! They are great and I know they will be a huge help! We are so looking forward to their visit!At my 39 week doctors appointment I was dilated almost to a 2 and 50% effaced, so I’m making a little progress but still not much going on! I think baby is waiting for some warmer weather before he or she makes their appearance! Next week it’s supposed to be in the 50’s! Wahoo!!! Maybe that will encourage him or her to come out. =)

39 weeks! Getting ready to go in the pool at our hotel this past weekend!

How far along: 39 weeks

Size of baby: Baby probably weighs somewhere around 7 pounds and is 19 or 20 inches long. About the size of a small watermelon!

Total weight gain: 22 pounds (I lost a pound from last week. Not sure how that happened?!?)

Baby’s heart rate: 145

Stretch marks: One small stretch mark right above my belly button. That’s it so far!

Morning Sickness: I said “so long” to Zofran a few months ago! Feeling good these days!

Gender: We don’t know! Can’t wait to find out!

Movement: Less movement these days but baby will almost always react if we talk to him/her or push on my belly. I can’t imagine baby has much room to move around at this point!

Sleep: Not sleeping the best. Just not really sleepy at night and end up awake several times during the night for long periods of time. I’m not uncomfortable at all while I’m sleeping… in fact I still feel great! I’m just not sleepy!

Cravings: Really been craving an extra hot, decaf, skim milk white chocolate mocha from Starbucks! I told Drew that’s the very first thing I want after I have the baby! That and a raspberry, cream cheese scone from the Great Harvest Bread Company. YUM!!

What I miss: I miss being able to pick the kids up easily without hurting my lower back and having a mini watermelon in the way!

Symptoms: Still have that pinched nerve, now on both sides of my lower back but relieving it with stretching and exercise. Having lots of cramping and a few contractions starting up.

Isaiah and Eloise: Isaiah said last week, “Mom, remember when you were in my tummy?” =) I told him that I was never in his tummy but he said, “Yes, you were mom. I was in your tummy and you were in mine too.” Lol! =) Eloise got her hair braided last week – something I’ve been wanting to get done and am so glad I was able to before baby came! Now I won’t have to worry about doing her hair every day when I have the new baby since the braids will be able to stay in for about a month. She loves the braids and the “princess” beads! She looks so much older with her hair braided, though! Not sure how I feel about that! Both kids are really looking forward to the arrival of their baby sibling. Isaiah is mainly excited about the present the baby is going to give him at the hospital and keeps wondering what in the world it could be!?!? =) Eloise can’t wait to hold the baby. We put baby’s carseat in the car just to have it ready to go and Eloise comments on it almost every time we get in the car saying, “This baby’s carseat. Where’s baby?” =) Hopefully baby will be here soon!

Well, I never made it to 38 weeks with Isaiah, so this is a first for me! =) Can’t believe that soon we are going to have a new baby in the house! It hit me the other day when I did some clothes shopping and bought 4T, 2T and NEWBORN clothes! This is getting real!!!At my last doctors appointment baby was head down (has been for a long time) with his/her feet right up under my ribs (not the best feeling in the world). 😉 Fundal height measuring at 37 weeks. Still dilated to a 1 but a little more thinned out than last week! Baby was squirming all around and my doctor said he/she was being “very uncooperative” when she tried to get the heart rate!

Me and my friend Kristyn – pregnant together for the first time! I’m 38 weeks and she’s 19 weeks! =)

How far along: 38 weeks

Size of baby: Baby is most likely about 6 1/2 – 7 1/2 pounds and about 19 – 20 inches. About the size of a pumpkin!!

Lol. I couldn’t resist. I found this when I googled “pumpkin” to try to find a picture of a pumpkin to put here!

Morning Sickness: I said “so long” to Zofran a few months ago! Feeling good these days!

Gender: We don’t know! Someone asked me the other day if we know the gender and are just keeping it a secret. Trust me, I WISH! We have no clue whether baby is a boy or a girl. Even the ultrasound tech who did my 20 week ultrasound didn’t look at the gender… so basically only God knows right now. 😉 As it gets closer to baby’s arrival I’m finding myself more and more anxious to find out and thinking why in the world did we wait!?!?! Thankfully I only have a few more days/weeks left and we will know! Can’t wait!

Movement: Less movement these days but baby is still pretty active. And it HURTS! This baby has a knack for kicking and jabbing in very uncomfortable places.

38 weeks!

Sleep: Not sleeping well at all. I’m not uncomfortable while sleeping, just not….. sleepy! Waking up several times at night, unable to fall back asleep. Often up before six and can’t go back down.

Cravings: No real cravings. Still leaning towards sweet things but it’s not uncontrollable. Still having my apple (or two!) a day! 😉

What I miss: I miss being able to sit for long periods of time without my legs falling asleep.

Symptoms: Still have that pinched nerve, now on both sides of my lower back but relieving it with stretching and exercise. Having lots of cramping and a few contractions starting up. I’ve been having lots of heartburn and indigestion- something I never had with Isaiah. It’s not very fun!

What I’m looking forward to: Looking forward to SPRING and hoping it brings warmer weather (I can hope, right?)! I thought being pregnant during the winter would help keep me warm, but not this winter!!!!

Isaiah and Eloise: The other day I asked Isaiah, “What are you going to do when you see the new baby for the first time?” He thought for a minute and then said in a baby voice, “I’m going to say, ‘Welcome, new baby, to my home!'” Lol! That kid constantly cracks us up. We’ve been trying to prepare the kids that soon the “new baby” is going to be coming out of my belly but I’m not really sure they understand the concept. Eloise especially seems to think that the baby {is} is my belly and I’m pretty sure that even when the baby comes out she’s still going to hug my belly and say baby. =) The baby “bought” gifts for both of the kids that he or she is going to give them when they come to the hospital to visit the baby for the first time. I am hoping that this will help the kids to see the new baby as someone friendly and not “threatening” to them and their relationship with mommy and daddy. They also bought a gift for the new baby that they will bring with them to the hospital. They are so excited to give the new baby what they bought! I also got their new Big Bro and Big Sis shirts in the mail last week. I ordered them off of Etsy and I’m so happy with how they turned out! I can’t wait for them to wear them to the hospital when they meet their new sibling!

A few days ago I had my 37 week doctors appointment! I’ve been having lots of cramping and some contractions starting up. My doctor said I’m dilated to 1 but still nice and thick so hopefully baby is planning to stay in a few weeks longer than Isaiah did! I am hoping and praying that Baby at least stays in until the 14th because Drew is taking his last exam for Edward Jones that day! After that I’m ready to have this baby (but watch, I’ll probably be like 2 weeks overdue!)! How far along: 37 weeks

Size of baby: Baby has reached full term and likely measures somewhere around 18-20 inches and about 6-7 pounds! About the size of a winter melon.

Total weight gain: 22 pounds

Baby’s heart rate: 145

Stretch marks: None yet! We’ll see what these next few weeks bring!

Morning Sickness: I said “so long” to Zofran a few months ago! Feeling good these days!

Gender: We don’t know! Can’t wait until we find out, we’re getting more and more anxious to know!

Movement: Less movement these days but baby is still pretty active. And it HURTS! This baby has a knack for kicking and jabbing in very uncomfortable places.

Sleep: Not sleeping well at all. I’m not uncomfortable while sleeping, just not….. sleepy! Waking up several times at night, unable to fall back asleep. Often up before six and can’t go back down.

Cravings: No real cravings. Still leaning towards sweet things but it’s not uncontrollable. Still having my apple (or two!) a day! 😉

What I miss: I miss being able to shave my legs without struggling to bend over and thus making my legs go numb and fall asleep!!! Seriously, I’m thinking about just having hairy legs for delivery. This is getting ridiculous!

Symptoms: Still have that pinched nerve, now on both sides of my lower back but relieving it with stretching and exercise. Having lots of cramping and a few contractions starting up. A little low on energy but still taking care of the kids, cooking, and cleaning without any difficulties. All in all feeling pretty good!

What I’m looking forward to: Drew finishing up the last test he is studying for for Edward Jones so that he can be home more and we can get the last minute things ready for baby! Also, looking forward to SPRING and hoping it brings warmer weather (I can hope, right?)! I thought being pregnant during the winter would help keep me warm, but not this winter!!!!

Isaiah and Eloise: Isaiah and Eloise are doing great! Isaiah talks a mile a minute and seriously {never} stops. He has quite the imagination and these days he loves to tell stories about giants and how he and daddy are going to fight them off and protect Mommy, Eloise, and the new baby. I love the things he thinks up!Eloise is fully potty trained now (yay!) and also has a growing vocabulary. When she finishes her pee pees on the potty she says, “I’m so proud of me” because she hears us telling Isaiah and her often “I’m so proud of you!”. It’s so sweet. She is almost 2…. where is the time going? Can’t believe my baby girl is growing up so fast!They are both still so excited about the baby coming. Eloise still loves my belly and loves to lay her head on it and kiss it and feel the baby move. Then Isaiah will come over and push her hand away because he wants to feel the baby move too. It usually ends in a fight but it’s sweet that they are fighting over feeling their baby sibling! I’m envisioning this baby being smothered in kisses and lots of love by his/her older siblings!

37 weeks with Isaiah! This was the day I had him. My water had broken earlier that morning and we were just about to head to the hospital!

37 weeks with Baby Hutcheson #3 (in the same shirt!)!

And… Can I just say…. Either Spring or this baby better get here {quick} because this winter coat is barely zipping anymore and I refuse to buy a maternity winter coat with less than 3 weeks left. 😉

Last week I was able to get maternity photos done, taken by Kim from Studio 9 Photography! She offered to do a maternity shoot for me completely free of charge! I’m so glad I did them as I never did any with Isaiah and I wish I had. Thirty-six weeks pregnant and out for an hour in the freezing (did I mention FREEZING) cold made for an interesting adventure that was so worth it! =) I love how they turned out!